Session 12 - Immigration

We are going to spend our last session together talking about foreigners, specifically Mexican or Arab immigrants. There seems to be an undertone of racism in this country where all Mexicans are seen as illegal immigrants and all Arabs, specifically Muslim Arabs are seen as terrorists.

We said that we were going to base each discussion on three Scriptures.

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Ephesians 4:2-5

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit-- just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Galatians 3:28

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

What do we think of when we see Arabian people, perhaps dressed in their native dress, turbines and all?

• Terrorism
• 9/11
• Taking over America
• Subversive agendas

What do we think when we see Mexican people, especially those that appear not to know the English language?

• Learn the language before you come here
• Do you have a green card?
• Taking good American jobs

Let's look at a poem...

The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus

Posted on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

This country was founded by immigrants, people looking to experience the American dream. We used to admire these people and now we seem to look on them with disdain.

Some facts on Illegal Immigrants.

• Between 7 and 20 million illegal immigrants are estimated to be living in the United States; due to the nature of illegal immigration, the exact number is unknown. Estimates from the Pew Hispanic Center show the number of illegal immigrants has declined to 11.1 million in March 2009 from a peak of 12 million in March 2007.
  It’s difficult to estimate because they typically don’t register with the census.
• The majority of the illegal immigrants are from Mexico.
• There are scattered reports of illegal immigrants being caught or convicted of criminal activity but nothing to indicate that the rate of criminal activity is higher among illegal aliens than the normal population.
• Under Title 8 Section 1325 of the U.S. Code, "Improper Entry by Alien," any citizen of any country other than the United States who:
• --Enters or attempts to enter the United States at any time or place other than as designated by immigration officers;
• or
• --Eludes examination or inspection by immigration officers;
• or
• --Attempts to enter or obtains entry to the United States by a willfully false or misleading representation or the willful concealment of a material fact;
  has committed a federal crime.
• This law was established in 1929.
• Violations are punishable by criminal fines and imprisonment for up to six months. Repeat offenses can bring up to two years in prison. Additional civil fines may be imposed at the discretion of immigration judges, but civil fines do not negate the criminal sanctions or nature of the offense.
• In 2005, illegal migrants accounted for about 5% of the civilian labor force, or 7.2 million workers out of a labor force of 148 million.
• They hold jobs in construction, production, installation and repair, farming, and food preparation.
• They generally do not pay taxes.
• It is often said by supporters of illegal, low-skill immigrants that the U.S. economy needs such laborers because they do the kinds of work that Americans will not do. However it’s not because Americans refuse them, but because Americans are not willing to perform such tasks where the wages are lower than they would otherwise be, where work rules may not exist and where the working conditions may be hazardous. Many employers seek illegal workers for the simple reason that it keeps costs down and means the companies do not have to invest in equipment and other capital improvements.
• Less than 3% of illegal immigrants ever ask for government assistance due to fear of deportation. This includes food stamps, welfare, etc.
• Few illegal aliens are terrorists. Most terrorists enter the US legally.

There are some social issues related to illegal immigration.

• Reduced or lost wages for citizens – due to underpaying of illegal workers.
• Loss of tax income – on those wages.
• Drug trafficking – with the vast influx of illegals a few drug smugglers slip through.
• --Mexico accounts for the majority of marijuana and methamphetamine and in total is responsible for 70% of the US narcotics trade.
• --Just across the border from El Passo Texas is Juarez Mexico. Drug gang violence accounted for 7000 murders in Juarez in the last three years.
• Insecurity – Fear of terrorists and of the unknown.
• New Arizona law – two key points:
• --It is illegal and can result in jail time to be caught by the police without your immigration papers on you.
• Police have the right to ask anyone on a routine stop to present their immigration papers.

Although some of these issues are legitimate, we still need to depend on God to help us understand what he expects of us in terms of behavior and interaction with others.

Let’s look at some Scripture.

Exodus 23:9

"Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens, because you were aliens in Egypt.

Leviticus 19:33-34

`When an alien lives with you in your land, do not mistreat him. 34The alien living with you must be treated as one of your native-born. Love him as yourself, for you were aliens in Egypt. I am the LORD your God.

The Israelites, after they were delivered from Egypt were reminded to treat foreigners with kindness as they knew what it meant to be strangers in a foreign land.

Matthew 25:34-46

"Then the King will say to those on his right, `Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37"Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40"The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41"Then he will say to those on his left, `Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
44"They also will answer, `Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
45"He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'
46"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Living in the US today, we are certainly more fortunate than the vast majority of illegal aliens that come into our country. By default that makes them less fortunate. Although they are breaking the law by coming to the US illegally, that doesn’t negate the teaching of Jesus on the treatment of strangers, aliens, the underprivileged.

And the last Scripture in our study.

Hebrews 13:2

Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

I want to leave you with this final thought:

Before you send an email, rush to judgment, condone a stereotype, dismiss an opinion, or embrace a false assumption, remember to study the Word, get the facts, walk in love, and most of all consider sin the illness, sinners the afflicted, Christ the Doctor, and yourself the ambulance driver.

It’s time for us to get to work.